REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
SUBMITTED TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
SUBMITTED BY: Travis Hopkins, City Manager
VIA: Eric Parra, Chief of Police
PREPARED BY: Brian Schrieber, Lieutenant, and Ingrid C. Ono, Sr. Exec. Asst.
Subject:
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Accept the Fiscal Year 2026/27 California Office of Traffic Safety Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Program Grant No. PS27020 in the amount of $50,000 and approve the related appropriation
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Statement of Issue:
The California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) has awarded the City of Huntington Beach a one-year Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Program grant, No. PS27020, in the amount of $50,000. The grant period runs from October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2027.
Grant funds will reimburse the City for overtime associated with traffic safety fairs and community events, pedestrian and bicycle safety presentations, adult community outreach events, bicycle rodeos, bicycle helmet fitting and distribution events, and pre- and post-grant helmet usage surveys, as well as related training travel, bicycle helmets, pedestrian and bicycle safety items, and educational materials.
City Council action is requested to accept the grant and to appropriate the grant funds, which are fully offset by reimbursement revenue from OTS.
Financial Impact:
This one-year grant is funded by OTS through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on a reimbursement basis, and no local match is required. The City will incur eligible expenditures and submit quarterly reimbursement claims to OTS.
The total award of $50,000 is to be expended between October 1, 2026, and September 30, 2027, and is allocated as follows: personnel costs of $39,890 for education and outreach overtime; in-state travel for training and conferences of $1,000; and other direct costs of $9,110, consisting of $4,000 for bicycle helmets, $3,000 for pedestrian and bicycle safety items, and $2,110 for educational materials.
Recommended Action:
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Accept the Fiscal Year 2026/27 California Office of Traffic Safety Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Program Grant No. PS27020 in the amount of $50,000 for the grant period of October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2027.
Ratify the execution of Grant Agreement No. PS27020 by the Chief of Police as the designated Authorizing Official, and authorize the Chief of Police, or designee, to execute any amendments, reimbursement claims, reports, and related documents necessary to administer the grant with an appropriation of $50,000.
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Alternative Action(s):
Do not approve recommended action and direct staff accordingly.
Analysis:
Huntington Beach presents a distinctive pedestrian and bicycle safety environment. The City's beachfront events and the bike path that runs the length of the beach along Pacific Coast Highway draw heavy pedestrian, bicycle, and skateboard traffic, and the growing use of electric bicycles has introduced additional hazards for riders, pedestrians, and motorists alike. Crash data identified in the grant application underscores the need for sustained intervention.
The Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Program grant funds a coordinated program of education, community engagement, and safety equipment distribution designed to reduce the number of pedestrians and bicyclists killed and injured in traffic crashes. During the grant year, the Police Department will conduct five bicycle rodeos at schools, parks, and community events, five pedestrian and bicycle safety presentations, two adult community outreach events, two bicycle helmet fitting and distribution events, and participation in 11 traffic safety fairs and community events. The Department will build on its existing partnership with the Junior Lifeguard program to reach young riders who walk and bicycle in and around the congested beach area.
As a condition of the award, the Police Department will conduct observational bicycle helmet usage surveys at the start and close of the grant year, submit quarterly reimbursement claims and quarterly performance reports to OTS, and complete a final evaluation at the close of the grant year.
Environmental Status:
Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(5), administrative activities of governments that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment do not constitute a project.
Strategic Plan Goal:
Goal 2 - Fiscal Stability, Strategy A - Consider new revenue sources and opportunities to support the City's priority initiatives and projects.
Attachment(s):
1. Fiscal Year 2026/27 OTS Selective Traffic Enforcement Program Grant Agreement No. PT27078.